Russians shut out US men in hockey battle

Ilya Kovalchuk and Nikolai Prokhorkin each scored twice to earn the Olympic Athletes from Russia a bruising 4-0 win over the US, to claim the top spot in their men's ice hockey preliminary round group.

The convincing victory moved the Russians directly into the quarter-final round, giving them an extra day of rest and cementing their credentials as one of the favourites, despite a surprise opening loss to Slovakia.

The Americans will have to play in a qualification playoff on Tuesday.

Kovalchuk's goals came 29 seconds apart on either side of the second break.

With the two goals, Kovalchuk, who now plays in the Russian-based Kontinental Hockey League, became the top scoring Russian Olympian ever.

His 13 career Olympic goals top Pavel Bure's previous record of 11.

"I still have some gas left in my tank, so I hope I score some more," he said.

"I think we played well. We came out strong. We scored the first goal then our goalie made some great saves."

Prokhorkin, who was drafted by the Los Angeles Kings but has never played in the NHL, opened the scoring in the first period.

His second came early in the second.

It was a physical game from the moment the puck dropped and the Russians set their sights repeatedly on Jordan Greenway.

The US ace found himself in more than one extended shoving match with an opponent, including one in front of the Russian bench with Alexander Barabanov in the first period.

"He didn't want to let go of me," Greenway said.

"He wanted to do a little dance with me by the bench, so I was willing to do it."